Sickle Cell Disease: Disability Benefits

Sickle Cell Disease is a group of blood disorders that causes red blood cells (RBCs) to become sickle-shaped, misshapen and break down. The oxygen-carrying capacity of such misshapen RBCs reduce significantly. It is a genetically transferred disease. Red Blood Cells contain a protein called hemoglobin. This is the protein that binds oxygen and carry it to all the parts of the body.

A gene on chromosome 11 is responsible for producing hemoglobin protein. This gene sometimes becomes abnormal due to mutation. If a person inherits two abnormal copies of this gene, one from each parent, then that person will develop sickle cell disease.

The sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal recessive inheritance. This means that both the mother and the father must pass on the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected.

Sickle cell disease can cause anemia, pain (varying both in intensity and duration), swelling, frequent infections and vision issues.

NOTE: World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed on 19 June

These symptoms can become so aggravated that the affected person may not be able to lead a normal working life. In India, sickle cell disease is considered as a disability under RPWD Act 2016.

In USA also, a person affected with sickle cell disease may be eligible for getting disability benefits.

Getting Disability Benefits for Sickle Cell Disease

In countries like USA and UK, person affected with sickle cell disease may or may not be eligible for getting disability benefits. In order to receive disability benefits, the persons must have symptoms so acute that she meets the criteria in the disability listing. If the symptoms are so acute as to keep you from working for more than a year — that can also become a ground for claiming disability benefits.